Kings County’s chief administrator will take the lead on a tourism advertising initiative.

Tom MacEwan reported at the Feb. 4 session that the Annapolis Valley Chamber of Commerce requested $10,000 for a four-page spread in the Nova Star On Board Magazine to promote tourism in the Valley region.

MacEwan recommended taking $10,000 from the Municipal Economic Development Fund earmarked for tourism to pay for the ads. He said the four pages have been reserved and there will be 75,000 copies distributed at each end of the Yarmouth ferry run and on board. Any funds not spent would be returned to the economic development fund.

Coun. Patricia Bishop said she wanted a copy of the motion to read before proposing an amendment. She wanted the funds to go to the chamber of commerce as requested but this was defeated.

Coun. Pauline Raven said the tourism component of the Municipal Economic Development Fund is intended for the community to use, not the municipality.

“I have confidence the AVCC tourism committee could do the work quickly and well,” Raven said.

MacEwan said there would be a meeting with Annapolis, Clare and Digby Feb. 6 to discuss advertising opportunities. He said Berwick has expressed an interest and the towns of Wolfville and Kentville have each purchased a page. If Kentville and Wolfville would join in, he said, the region could have a six-page spread.

Bishop asked MacEwan why he is recommending that he have control over the project instead of giving the chamber of commerce the funds. MacEwan said council has directed him to create a framework to guide spending municipal tourism dollars. However, this hasn’t been completed.

“In my mind, if we buy (the ad), I’m not running afoul of that instruction,” MacEwan said, pointing out that circumstances dictate such action. He said the matter was discussed with the chamber of commerce before he brought it to council.

Judy Rafuse, executive director of the chamber, spoke positively of the move when asked for a comment.

“The chamber is pleased to have the funding in place and will work in partnership with the county and it's partners,” she said. “The chamber is built on partnerships and we are pleased to have the County of Kings as one of them.”

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Ron

February 10, 2014 - 13:43

I find MS. Bishop and Ms Raven to be bright spots in the closed world of the Municipal Council. There appears to be a lot of in-camera, (read decisions made outside the public sphere with no recourse and little information being available), sessions happening in areas that should be open to the public. When my money is being spent, or given, to anyone I believe I have the right to know if it is going to areas that affect me in the long run. In camera was supposed to be for dealing with personnel and personal situations. That has changed. Whenever I see something like a municipal council running too smoothly I begin to think change is needed. That is where these Councillors come into it. A little disagreement keeps them on track.